New Delhi, India: 30 November, 2009, IR Summary/Agencies: 

Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda was arrested on Monday by the Chaibasa police after refusing to respond to the Enforcement Directorate’s summons.

Koda was arrested on the instructions of Enforcement Directorate (ED) in association with a multi-crore money laundering cheat under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.  

Koda was arrested in Chaibasa, about 200 km from Ranchi, and is being brought to the state capital by a police team, an official said. The Chaibasa SP was present when Koda was arrested.

Madhu Koda was repeatedly failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the money laundering case against him. He had earlier said he would be available for questioning only after the Jharkhand assembly polls on December 18.

“The summons by the Enforcement Directorate were delivered at my Ranchi residence only on November 18, a day before the appearance when I was busy campaigning in Chaibasa," Koda had said when he was asked by reporters why he failed to appear before the agency on November 19.

Koda is alleged to have laundered thousands of crores of rupees during his stints as the chief minister between 2006 and 2008.

Since Oct 31, the Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate have conducted raids at 69 places in eight cities, including at Koda's home. Koda, however, insists the raids were politically motivated.